Tiara of Maria II
The Tiara of Maria II (Portuguese: Tiara de D. Maria II) is a jewelled, ornamental crown made for Queen Maria II of Portugal in the 1830s-40s, set in sapphires and diamonds. It is the oldest extant tiara that can be linked to a Portuguese sovereign.[1][2]
Having found its way to the Swedish royal family through inheritance, the jewel is currently in a private collection, having been sold at auction on 12 May 2021 by Christie's in Geneva.[3][4]
History
On stylistic grounds, the tiara can be dated to around the
Maria II had been restored to the throne in 1834, after the conclusion of the
After the Queen's death in 1853, each of her seven children inherited part of their mother's private jewellery collection. The 1854 inventory, drawn up by court assayers João Pedro Lourenço and João Estanislau de Sousa, lists the tiara as "a diadem comprising nine detachable pieces, the central one largest... currently studded in one thousand four-hundred and fifteen brilliant-cut diamonds, five are missing"; the document values the tiara at 2.000$000 (2 contos de réis).[5]
Sources differ on whether the tiara was inherited by
The tiara was sold at auction on 12 May 2021 by
Details
The tiara is made of gold, comprising a plain base covered in
The tiara is an example of versatile "transformable jewellery" that was innovative and in fashion at the time.[5] The top elements of the tiara are detachable, forming nine individual brooches, and leaving the base of the tiara with its trefoil embellishments to be worn separately as a smaller bandeau-style tiara.[6]
References
- ^ a b Salema, Isabel; Canelas, Lucinda (12 May 2021). "Tiara de safiras e diamantes que pertenceu a D. Maria II vai a leilão na Christie's" [Sapphire and diamond tiara that belonged to Queen Maria II goes to auction at Christie's]. Público (in Portuguese). Retrieved 13 February 2022.
- ^ a b "Diretor do Palácio da Ajuda diz que faltou "capacidade" financeira para comprar coroa da rainha Maria II" [Director of Ajuda Palace says there was no financial "capability" to buy Maria II's crown]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 13 May 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
- ^ a b "Imperial jewels sell for $3 million in Christie's auction". Reuters. 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
- ^ a b c d ""Magnificent Jewels including the Alrosa Spectacle Diamond", Live Auction 20028: Lot 145 (Important 19th-century sapphire and diamond crown)". Christie's. 12 May 2021. Retrieved 12 February 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Gonçalves, Mauro (2 May 2021). "Da coleção de D. Maria II ao leilão da Christie's: a história da tiara que define um gosto português" [From the collection of Queen Maria II to the Christie's auction: the history of the tiara that defines a Portuguese taste]. Observador (in Portuguese). Retrieved 12 February 2022.
- ^ a b c Kiehna, Lauren (1 May 2021). "Queen Maria II's Sapphire and Diamond Tiara". The Court Jeweller. Retrieved 12 February 2021.
- ^ a b Canelas, Lucinda; Queirós, Luís Miguel (12 May 2021). "Portugal não conseguiu comprar a tiara de D. Maria II, que atingiu mais de 1,3 milhões de euros em leilão" [Portugal could not buy Queen Maria II's tiara, which reached over €1.3 million at auction]. Público (in Portuguese). Retrieved 12 February 2022.